NYSSMA Prep: What You Need To Know

I usually do a NYSSMA prep blog around this time each year, but this one in particular comes with a somewhat larger sense of urgency. Upon doing a master class last week with some students preparing for NYSSMA, it dawned on me that there were certain aspects of preparation that were being neglected. Here are a few tips on how to have a stellar NYSSMA performance.

1. NYSSMA is right around the corner: For most, NYSSMA will occur May 30-31. While this may seem like a long time, it is not! A general rule of thumb would be to have all your scales perfected and memorized by the middle of April and have your piece performance ready by May 1st. If you don't meet those soft deadlines, not to worry, everyone learns at their own pace, but don't underestimate how quickly May will come by!

2. Start sight-reading now: Doing sight-reading with your teacher once a week is good practice but it's simply not enough if you want to get really good at it. Make sure you're doing it every time you practice at home. It doesn't matter the difficulty, just pick up any new piece of music and read through it slowly. The more you do it, the better you'll get!

3. Perform in front of people: Take any opportunity to play in front of people. When you are nervous, certain mistakes can surface that wouldn't happen normally. Therefore, it's good to simulate a performance setting. If you can't find an audience, try recording yourself.

4. Practice in front of a mirror: This mainly goes for voice students. Practicing in front of a mirror allows you to check your posture and helps you check your facial expressions. You don't want to seem sad or angry if the music is happy and vice-versa.

5. Show up on time and dress nicely: Not too much to explain on this one, but showing up on time lets you warm up and calm your nerves. Dressing up makes you look good and shows respect for the adjudicator and the music.

6. Buy your books and get your accompanists NOW: Don't wait until May to buy books, they can go out of stock or shipping can take a while. Additionally, if you don't buy the book listed in the NYSSMA manual, they can technically ban you from performing. Accompanists also get swarmed around this time with jobs for NYSSMA so make sure you call one now if you haven't already!

7. Have fun: Too often I've seen crying faces at NYSSMA. Any performance situation can be stressful and nerve-wracking, but don't forget that nothing bad will happen if you don't perform well! This isn't to say don't do your best, but remember to have fun; the adjudicator is there to help you get better!

Good luck and happy practicing!